Mpampos custom

In New Kessani, in Magana and in other villages of the region, the north-thracian custom of gynaecocracy is still kept every year, which was formerly called "tis Mpampos" or "tis mamis". On January 8th - the day of Agias Domikikis celebration – the married women, dressed in their traditional costumes, are visiting the woman who is selected every year to play the role of Mpampo and they offer her gifts, washing her hands to honor her in a symbolic way for the “birth” she gave (...)
them. At the feast that follows men are not allowed and the penalty for those who break this rule, is ... a cold shower! The ritual survived as a traditional custom since the ancient “Thesmophoria” and “Aloa”.